Not sure why but I have been in a Yuuuuge rut. It started in December thanks to a bad cold and horrible lung function so I stopped working out. Then January hit and apparently it turned into strep. So finally thinking February would be the month and work got insane so now we are into mid-march. The big dance, it is time. No more waiting until Monday or Tomorrow to start. Today is the day I start. It is going to be hard to make my 50 by 50 goal but I think I can come pretty damn close. So for all those who want to throw in the towel and wonder what is the point. Join me in realizing that it is never too late and get fit and healthy and become the you that you have always wanted to be.

I have been an SAP Basis Admin for over 15 years. People always ask, what is Basis. Well it is basically the system admin piece at the software level. So, yes, I do consider myself as system admin. So Happy System Admin Dayto me.

I have been riding both stationary and road bike for a while now and have done a couple of races. I really want to move onto the next level and start jogging/running. However, I am afraid of embarrassing myself. I also have a real fear of triggering an asthma attack. These two items are preventing me from moving to a new level of cardio exercise. I know if I can get myself to start I will find it will not be as bad as I might think that it is in my mind.

Too often we are afraid to go to the gym if we are not a perfect body. We are afraid of what people might think. The reality is that we are the only ones looking at other people. For the haters who might shout out mean things from their car. “Screw them” at least you are doing something about it. Truly fit and confident people don’t need to stoop so low. The haters that are shouting are obviously feeling inadequate about something in their lives so as Taylor Swift would say, “JUST SHAKE IT OFF’.

Hey, Out of Shape Girl. Yes, you. The one feigning to not see me when we cross paths on the running track. The one not even wearing sports gear, breathing heavy. You’re slow, you breathe hard and your efforts at moving forward make you cringe.

You cling shyly to the furthest corridor, sometimes making larger loops on the gravel ring by the track just so you’re not on it. You sweat so much that your hair is all wet. You rarely stay for more than 20 minutes at a time, and you look exhausted when you leave to go back home. You never talk to anyone. I’ve got something I’d like to say to you.

You are awesome.

If you’d look me in the eye only for an instant, you would notice the reverence and respect I have for you. The adventure you have started is tremendous; it leads to a better health, to renewed confidence and to a brand new kind of freedom. The gifts you will receive from running will far exceed the gigantic effort it takes you to show up here, to face your fears and to bravely set yourself in motion, in front of others.

You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who knows that anything is possible.

You’re a hero to me. And, if you’d take off the blaring headphones and put your head up for more than a second or two, you would notice that the other runners you cross, the ones that probably make you feel so inadequate, stare in awe at your determination. They, of all people, know best where you are coming from. They heard the resolutions of so many others, who vowed to pick up running and improve their health, “starting next week”. Yet, it is YOU who runs alongside, who digs from deep inside to find the strength to come here, and to come back again.

You are a runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a true inspiration.

Ughh.. I am so tired of doing well all week and then totally blowing it on the weekend. No wonder I am sitting on a plateau. I final did some soul searching and figured out what was going wrong. I have been treating my transformation like a diet. So after doing well for 5 days I give myself permission to have a “cheat” day. The reality is that if I am going to succeed in getting healthy and lose weight I need to make the lifestyle change and commit to it. That means there is no “cheat” day. I will track all food eaten: even if I go over my points. I need to drink water on the weekends. I need to COMMIT.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Spray a 9X13″ baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl mix together the olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and hot sauce. Add the cubed potatoes and stir to coat. Carefully scoop the potatoes into the prepared baking dish, leaving behind as much of the olive oil/hot sauce mixture as possible. Bake the potatoes for 45-50 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes, until cooked through and crispy and browned on the outside. While the potatoes are cooking, add the cubed chicken to the bowl with the left over olive oil/hot sauce mixture and stir to coat. Once the potatoes are fully cooked, remove from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Top the cooked potatoes with the raw marinated chicken. In a bowl ix together the cheese, bacon and green onion and top the raw chicken with the cheese mixture. Return the casserole to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the topping is bubbly delicious.

After years of being absent from my blog, I have decided that Facebook and Twitter are not the same as blogging. I have missed it. I have made some changes to it. I am going to be focusing on my day to day. The main focus, of course, will be my transformation journey trying to lose it. I have 10-1/2 months until I am 50 and my main goal is to be to my goal weight by then.

It is going to be rough. I have recently after 30 pounds I have hit a yoyo plateau. I realize of course that you cannot out exercise a bad diet. So I am going to follow the Weight Watchers plan, but will be removing all whites: white bread and white sugar. I will also be exercising at least 1 hour a day. This time I am going to move forward with a realistic plan.

Welcome to my site! This is my journey of transformation. It is more than just about dieting it is a lifestyle. It is about the whole package. Join me as a Lose It. I am sure I will be losin' it a lot.